The fact that sexual violence is often experienced along racism for many people of color is almost always completely glossed over in discussions about sexual assault and rape. It’s something that is mentioned when discussing sexual violence — everyone nods their head in agreement. During these conversations, most white people contribute to this head-nodding circle while looking at their shoelaces, heads down to avoid eye contact, because they don’t know what this means and are unable to admit it.
I think that most of the reason this topic gets so little attention in circles discussing sexual violence is because those circles are most often dominated by white experiences. Just mentioning that the experiences of people of color exist feels like enough to most white people in almost every sexual violence discussion I have been a part of.
However this is never enough, and it’s all we get.
Additionally, I have only ever heard this topic described using the “neutral” word racialized and I think this is also because of the strong presence of white supremacy and white domination in sexual violence awareness movements. But my experiences weren’t “racialized;” they were racist.
It’s time to start calling things as they are, regardless of how uncomfortable they make others.
Not Your ‘Geisha Doll:’ We Need to Talk About & Not Around Racist Sexual Violence
ForLoveFromFear 